MMA-URLS

Renan Barao is the fill-in for an injured Dominick Cruz and will fight Uirjah Faber for the interim bantamweight title at UFC 148, Dana White has announced.

Posted in: title, title fight, dominick cruz, bantamweight title, uirjah faber

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An injury that forced Dominick Cruz out of UFC 148 has opened the door for a new contender to step in and face Urijah Faber for an interim title on July 7. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: ufc, faber, dominick cruz, urijah, bull

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When Dominick Cruz suffered a knee injury that forced him out of his UFC 148 bantamweight title defense rematch against Urijah Faber, fight fans lost an exciting fight from the upcoming schedule. The UFC hasn't let fans down though, as Dana White announced that Renan Barao will replace Cruz for the fight on tonight's episode of The Ultimate Fighter Live in a bout for the interim bantamweight title The move was seen as slightly "spoiled" by some when Barao began sending tweets during the day reminding fans that Dana would be announcing Faber's new opponent tonight. Still, Barao vs Faber is a very good, very competitive fight and with big wins over Brad Pickett and Scott Jorgensen, Barao has certainly earned his way into this major fight. Barao also holds a #3 ranking in the USA TODAY / SB Nation Consensus Rankings. The bout will be the co-main event of UFC 148. The event is headlined by the UFC middleweight title rematch between champion Anderson Silva and his nemesis, Chael Sonnen.

Posted in: ufc, fight, title, dominick cruz, barao

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UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will finish his coaching duties on The Ultimate Fighter: Live before he opts for surgery to repair his torn ACL, according to Ariel Helwani. Helwani confirmed on a recent edition of “UFC Tonight” that Cruz has yet to set a date for the operation. “The Dominator” tore his knee ligament [...]

Posted in: ufc, cruz, dominick cruz, repair, coaching duties

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Well, for the first time all season, two fights will comprise the hour-long episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Live. However, I have a feeling more will be tuning in to find out anything new concerning Dominick Cruz. As all of you know by now, the UFC bantamweight champion suffered a torn ACL last week in [...]

Posted in: week, anything, episode, dominick cruz, acl

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Two of the quarterfinalists in this season of the Ultimate Fighter Live have spoken out in support of their injured coach Dominick Cruz, saying they don't want anyone but him leading their team. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

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submitted by mitchard [link] [10 comments]

Posted in: dominick cruz, urijah faber, renan barao, renan, titlefight

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UFC president Dana White was a guest on “UFC Tonight” this past Tuesday evening, and the boss gave us some more details on the torn ACL suffered by UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. White also revealed that Urijah Faber would remain on the UFC 148 card, facing an unnamed opponent for the interim title. Dominick [...]

Posted in: ufc, dominick cruz, dominick, urijah faber, tuesday evening

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Urijah Faber found out Monday that he will not face Dominick Cruz for the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 148 in July. Cruz, who defeated Faber last year, suffered a torn ACL and will be on the sidelines for several months. So, like most fighters do in this “social media” world we live in, Faber [...]

Posted in: ufc, faber, dominick cruz, urijah faber, july cruz

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Urijah Faber has responded to the news that expected UFC 148 opponent Dominick Cruz is out of their bout with an ACL tear. After implying that Ronda Rousey is the one that did it to Cruz, he tweeted about the injury and named Renan Barao as the best option to fill in on July 7th: @UrijahFaberUrijah Faber Sucks about @thedomin8r hope recovers fast! Sounds like 9 months aftr surgery @renanbaraoufc seems like the best replacement! @danawhite May 07 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply Related: Dominick Cruz Out Of UFC 148 With ACL Injury He also released a video through his Youtube page where he made another reference to Rousey, and expanded on who he thinks he could face. He believes that it will be for an interim title, and he names Barao again, but also says that Michael McDonald and Ivan Menjivar could be possibilities. He doesn't know what the deal is yet, he's just offering up his opinion. He also plugs his book. Check the video after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC 148

Posted in: ufc, dominick cruz, renan barao, ivan menjivar, book check

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The UFC bantamweight division became the latest victim of an injury setting the title-picture back after champion Dominick Cruz tore his ACL in training and has had to withdraw from a July defense against rival Urijah Faber. Cruz and Faber are currently coaching on TUF 15 meaning there’s a good chance more details will come to light this Friday night when a new episode airs. The UFC’s website has confirmed Cruz’s status as well as his removal from the July 7 bout. An Update on TUF 15 As chance would have it, 28-1 contender Renan Barao happens to be scheduled for a scrap on the same card opening the door for a match-up with Faber, possibly even for an interim title depending on how long Cruz is out. No timetable has been mentioned for his return though it is likely he will miss more than six months due to the severity of the injury. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, cruz, dominick cruz, episode airs, card opening

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The UFC doesn’t have a set of guidelines it would appear that they follow when it comes to deciding to create an interim title. When Randy Couture and his contract issues came about several years ago, it was an obvious time to create an interim UFC heavyweight championship. More recently, the knee issues surrounding Georges [...]

Posted in: ufc, dominick cruz, bantamweight title, contract issues, knee issues

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submitted by WLiam2012 [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: ufc, faber, dominick cruz, urijah faber, urijah

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It appears that UFC 148 might have lost another bout. There are reports coming out saying that UFC bantamweight champion and TUF Live coach Dominick Cruz is out of UFC 148 due to an ACL injury and won't be completing his trilogy with Urijah Faber, at least for now. Veteran MMA announcer Mauro Ranallo just tweeted about it: @mauroranalloMauro Ranallo http://t.co/zGy948wC is reporting that Dominick Cruz has torn his ACL and is pulling out of UFC 148. UFC hasn't confirmed it yet. May 07 via Twitter for iPad Favorite Retweet Reply The information was originally reported by PhyteGurus, and was confirmed by MMA Weekly. Cruz won the WEC bantamweight title back at WEC 47, which was turned into the UFC bantamweight title after the merger. He defended the belt twice in the WEC and twice in the UFC thus far. His UFC 148 co-main event bout with Faber would have been their third meeting, with each taking one of the first two bouts. It is unclear at this point if Faber will be staying on the card, or how it might affect the rest of the Ultimate Fighter Live season. Either way, this is a huge blow to an event which has already lost Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch when it was moved to UFC 149 last week. SBN coverage of UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen 2

Posted in: ufc, cruz, dominick cruz, dominick, acl injury

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It looks like Urijah Faber will have to wait for the chance to settle his long standing rivalry with Dominick Cruz. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: cruz, dominick cruz, dominick, urijah faber, bull

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UFC president Dana White is back with Dominick Cruz and Faber making their UFC on Fox 3 picks, plus an emotional behind the scenes look at UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: ufc, fox, dana, dominick cruz, bull

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Urijah Faber, currently a coach on The Ultimate Fighter: Live, steps back into the Octagon on July 7 at UFC 148 to square off with Dominick Cruz. But first, he has a new book to launch. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: dominick cruz, urijah faber, urijah, bull, book “

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It's coaches challenge day on TUF Live. What does Dana White have lined up for Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber? Well, this pic he posted on his twitter should provide a clue.

Posted in: coach, challenge, cruz, dominick cruz, urijah faber

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On Friday, the third episode of UFC Primetime: Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans went up while the latest The Ultimate Fighter was the same as the week before, possibly good signs for the UFC 145 pay-per-view buyrate. Primetime drew 646,000 viewers -- up from 573,000 for the second episode and 462,000 for the debut. The series aired after TUF at 11 PM EST on FX. The eighth installment of the HBO 24/7 inspired series was designed to hype the Jones/Evans clash that headlined this past Saturday's UFC 145. TUF's viewership was 1.05 million for the seventh episode of the series, which featured a fight between Vinc Pichel and John Cofer. Pichel picked up a third round submission victory, evening the series between Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber at 3-3. The ratings high for the season was seen in the first week with 1.3 million viewers tuning in, but fell to a season low 947,000 in the fifth week. SBN coverage of UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans

Posted in: ufc, episode, series, dominick cruz, vinc pichel

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I once shared an escalator with Dominick Cruz back in the prehistoric 'WEC era' of MMA; before he was the UFC's undisputed bantamweight champion. In the forty seconds we talked, we discussed Miguel Torres and what sort of products he used in his hair to keep its luster. We couldn’t figure it out and decided to part ways when we reached the second floor of a convention center in Boston, MA. It’s still a mystery to both of us. Realistically, it’s not that important. We’re sure it’s something far more luxurious than what Urijah Faber uses since he shaved his head. In fact, Dominick Cruz thinks Urijah Faber looks and dresses like a bum in this sneak peak of this Friday’s episode of TUF Live. [Source]

Posted in: cruz, dominick cruz, dominick, urijah faber, urijah

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He was unable to take the bantamweight belt from Dominick Cruz. Now he's in limbo waiting for a flyweight title fight. To Joseph Benavidez, "the UFC belt is worth waiting for."

Posted in: belt, dominick cruz, bantamweight belt, joseph benavidez, ufc belt

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UFC 148 features the finales of two classic MMA trilogies, as Tito Ortiz steps into the cage with Forrest Griffin for the third and final time, and Dominick Cruz puts his bantamweight title on the line in a tilt against Urijah Faber.

Posted in: ufc, forrest griffin, dominick cruz, bantamweight title, mma trilogies

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Just four episodes in and yet another big fight is going down tonight. Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) reality television baby The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), is now in full swing with three episodes in the books and and the elimination fights inside the house well underway. Last week's broadcast showcased a return to form for the prank heavy, testosterone laden show. But it also featured Dominick Cruz 's top pick, Justin Lawrence, dominating Cristiano Marcello in what many thought could have been a potential final. Get up to date on all that by clicking here and here. Tonight's show will feature another fight chosen by Cruz, as yet another favorite, Myles Jury, will go head on against Team Urijah Faber's Al Iaquinta. The former is a big favorite over the latter -- almost 3-to-1 at this point -- but that's why they fight, Maniacs. MMAmania.com has a live blog of all the night's action, starting at 10 p.m. ET, after the jump. ULTIMATE FIGHTER 15 LIVE BLOG MARCH 30 Geno here. See you tonight, folks.

Posted in: fight, fighter, dominick cruz, myles jury, nights action

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The final nine months of 2012 will undoubtedly be filled with exciting title bouts, including Jon Jones versus Rashad Evans and Urijah Faber against Dominick Cruz, but I'm already looking forward to the fights to come in 2013.

Posted in: jon jones, ufc fights, rashad evans, dominick cruz, urijah faber

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Already, Dominick Cruz is looking like the more strategic of the two coaches on TUF 15. Not only did he get inside the heads of Urijah Faber and his team by surprising them with the opportunity to pick who they wanted to fight Justin Lawrence, but then he and his team developed...

Posted in: tuf, faber, dominick cruz, urijah faber, urijah

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submitted by swampskater [link] [comment]

Posted in: fighter, cruz, dominick cruz, swampskater link, jugular

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LAS VEGAS - UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz appears to be making all the right calls, no matter how crazy they seem. Serving as a coach on the FX-broadcast "The Ultimate Fighter: Live" series, Cruz has shied away from conventional wisdom when it comes to fight selection, preferring instead to give up control of the matchups one week and choosing his opponent's top fighter the next. There a simple reason for that, Cruz said. He's playing for keeps.

Posted in: fighter, cruz, dominick cruz, fight selection, series cruz

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Taking a look at Nick Diaz's appeal, Rampage's uncertain future and why Dominick Cruz should be a household name.

Posted in: rampage, week, name, dominick cruz, march

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Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber will close out their trilogy of fights this July, and the odds for the third fight have just been released.

Posted in: fight, faber, dominick cruz, urijah faber, urijah

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On March 9, " The Ultimate Fighter " returned with Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber as the two UFC fighters turned coaches. There have been many fighters from the UFC that have starred on the reality television show throughout the 14 previous seasons, and it always makes...

Posted in: ufc, fighter, ufc fighters, dominick cruz, urijah faber

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Tonight ushers in a completely new era for the Ultimate Fighter franchise including sixteen live fights on FX. With match-ups still under wraps, the show remains as much a mystery minutes before airing as it was when the list of competitors was first announced, adding to the intrigue surrounding the popular reality show’s fifteenth season. What is known is bantamweight rivals Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz will coach two teams over the next thirteen weeks with each contestant hoping to make a name for himself as the next Ultimate Fighter champion. Faber and Cruz will also face off in July with Cruz’s divisional title on the line. Additionally, each week will feature highlights from the past few days’ activities as well as a live bout. Read below to see how things unfold when the curtain gets pulled back at 9:00 PM EST including results from the fights with each victor securing a plce inside the TUF 15 house, health-permitting: Check out a live feed from the TUF Training Center showing what’s going on behind the scenes below:

Posted in: tuf, cruz, dominick cruz, time results, mystery minutes

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Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz went toe-to-toe again, this time as part of the UFC's Ultimate Insider review of their UFC 132 Bantamweight title bout. The pair will have more than enough time together as coaches at TUF: Live, which makes its debut tonight at 9PM EST on FX. This episode of the Ultimate Insider also features Joe Rogan, and his favorite TUF moments. Further Reading: Submit your picks for upcoming MMA

Posted in: dominick cruz, urijah faber, insider, tuf moments, insider review

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When Dominick Cruz was climbing the ranks, he tried but failed to make it onto “The Ultimate Fighter.”

Posted in: fighter, cruz, dominick cruz, dominick, fighter ’

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Well, well, well boys and girls...what we have hear is a situation in which the sweet little term of endearment, 'I hate your face' is perfectly applicable. Dominick Cruz really does seem to hate Urijah Faber's face, or at the very least he hates the lower hemisphere of Urijah's face. Cruz's hate for the bottom half of Faber's face can be attributed to some comments Urijah Faber made this summer about their first WEC fight when Urijah submitted Cruz via guillotine choke. Urijah claimed to have given Cruz life and allowed him to live only because MMA has rules and the ref made him cease choking the life out of Cruz. Cruz didn't like Urijah's mouth saying those words at all, and in a recent interview with Sherdog's Beatdown Radio show he had a whole bunch to say about Urijah's comments, his mouth and even Urijah's chin. “He can say whatever he wants, but he’s just saying ignorant things because I get under his skin. He starts trying to go for the jugular, but that was one of the dumbest things he could have said because he’s been allowed to live several times. Tyson Griffin let him live. Mike Brown let him live. Jose Aldo chopped his leg off, so I’d be fighting him with no leg right now. He’s just saying stupid things to try to hype things up. It just makes no sense.” “If there weren’t rules in MMA, back in 2005, Tyson Griffin put him to sleep with a knockout and he would have finished him right then and there, and I would have never fought Urijah Faber. There would have never been a rivalry. There would have never been nothing. This is a sport. This isn’t a death match. If it’s a death match, I’ll grab a pitchfork and stab him through his chest. It’s not a death match, man. … It’s a sport. It’s a sporting event.” “He caught me in a submission in 2007. He beat me. I never made one excuse for it. I go and I beat him, and he has nothing but excuses. It’s a sport. You can win by points or you can win by finish. I did not finish him. I beat him by keeping him going backwards the entire fight, landing more punches than him and getting more takedowns than him. Yes, it’s hard to finish him. He’s one of the best fighters on the planet and so am I. He didn’t finish me either.” “I’m going to put a whooping on him, and this time I’m going to finish him. I’m tired of hearing him run his mouth with that big chin of his.” Wow, when the disdain two people have for one another reaches visions of pitchfork stabbing and death match talk you know it's real. That my friends, is the exact formula for some good TV drama between these two on the next season of TUF. Set your reminders now to check out the first look at all the face hate and anger of TUF Season 15: Cruz vs Faber tomorrow night at 9pm on FX. [source]

Posted in: face, cruz, faber, dominick cruz, urijah

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Fuel TV released a preview of the latest UFC Ultimate Insider featuring Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber watching their second fight and disagreeing quite a bit on what they see.

Posted in: ufc, tv, fuel tv, dominick cruz, urijah faber

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This Friday night the newest season of the Ultimate Fighter will flicker into existence on the FX airwaves with a “real time” format to boot including live fights and immediate reaction from all of the involved parties. It will also give former WEC champion Urijah Faber an opportunity to reunite with rival Dominick Cruz in a competitive manner with each coaching a team of TUFers before eventually facing off for a third time in July. While Faber is certainly amped at the idea of beating Cruz as a coach first, then as a fighter, it turns out his true motivation for accepting a role as one of the team-heads has to do with his love of the sport rather than his hate for “The Dominator”. “That’s what I’m most excited about man,” replied Faber in an interview with MMAFightCorner when asked about watching the teams perform on a weekly basis. “I mean, I’m a huge fight fan. I mean, dream come true to watch two guys that are like, who have everything at stake, fight live each Friday. It’s going to be something great for me, that’s for sure.” Of course, getting to one-up Cruz isn’t a bad prospect either as far as Faber is concerned based on their long-standing feud. While “The California Kid” may not be an instigator looking to cause problems, that doesn’t mean he won’t be ready to respond appropriately when need be. “It’s a long history between us. And it’s basically, and I’ve always said, I feel like he chose me as an enemy. I don’t even know the guy and he already started you know, being kind of a jerk off,” said the 26-5 Faber. “So, I accepted it and I’ll run with it. I don’t have any enemies, but I’m not scared of the confrontation, that’s for sure.” “I’ve never been in a situation where I’m training to basically fight and do harm to someone, and then also have to live in the same area as him and see him every day. So, it’s gonna be interesting man. I don’t know exactly how it’s gonna go, but it’s going to be interesting,” he concluded. TUF 15 debuts at 9:00 PM EST with a two-and-half-hour special featuring sixteen qualifying fights with winners moving on to get a spot in the house, one step closer to a season title and six-figure contract. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: fight, ’t, i ’m, faber, dominick cruz

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This is the UFC on FX 2 live blog for Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall, a flyweight bout on tonight's UFC event from the Allphones Arena in Sydney Australia. Johnson (14-2) is coming off a loss in a UFC bantamweight title fight to Dominick Cruz at last October's UFC on Versus. McCall (11-2) makes his UFC debut after capturing the Tachi Palace Fights flyweight belt against Darrell Montague at TPF 10 last August. Check out the live blog below. More Coverage: UFC on FX 2 Results | Latest UFC News Round 1: Round 2: Round 3:

Posted in: ufc, fx, johnson, blog, dominick cruz

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Nobody gets hyped up about not liking somebody. Either you like somebody or you don't. – Dominick Cruz

Posted in: cruz, dominick cruz, dominick, somebody, liking somebody

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Jon Jones and Dominick Cruz will make appearances at NASCAR events in the next two weeks to promote the UFC. Jones will be the “Honorary Race Official” this Sunday and Cruz will be the “Honorary Pace Car Driver” on March 4th. It was announced Monday that Jones would serve as the Honorary Race Official for NASCAR’s Daytona 500 this Sunday. Jones will participate in pre-race festivities and promote his upcoming fight at UFC 145 in April. (H/t: MMA Mania) It was announced earlier this month by MMA Weekly that Dominick Cruz would be the honorary pace car driver at the Subway Fresh Fit 500 in Phoenix on March 4th. The race will be shown on Fox. Cruz will debut as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter on FX 5 days later, March 9th. Payout Perspective: Anderson Silva also participated in a NASCAR event in Phoenix last November. At UFC on Fox 2 in January we saw Kevin Harvick make an appearance to promote the Daytona 500. With Fox Sports partnering with both sports properties, we will see more of the synergy. It would be interesting to see if this helps both sports garner fans and viewership. In my opinion, I think that the cross promotion helps the UFC more than NASCAR. But then again, I am more of a UFC fan than one of NASCAR.

Posted in: ufc, jone, cruz, dominick cruz, nascar

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“For this fight I am bringing in UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz to lend us a hand. He’s a bit quicker and faster than I am. He can emulate Frankie and help me deal with the speed and footwork Edgar possesses… The first thing I took away is that he does make mistakes and can be hurt. He got hurt very badly in both fights in the first round. He does leave openings and make mistakes. He has holes and there are opportunities where you can go after him and throw him off of his game. You also have to take away the fact that he has a huge heart, a very good chin, and a never say die attitude. That’s not something that should ever be discounted… This fight is going to be good. It’ll be like two cats trapped inside of a bag. He’s a pretty aggressive fighter who moves a lot, but he remains very active and goes after it. He’s not a guy who will get on the bike and not engage. He moves around a lot, but comes to fight each and every time. We both have aggressive natures so you can expect us to get after it and put on a great fight.” — Ben Henderson talking to Five Oz. about his upcoming title fight against Frankie Edgar at UFC 144 There definitely won’t be a lack of action when Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson step into the Octagon this weekend. Both guys fight at a feverish pace and have plenty of experience doing it for five straight rounds. I’m leaning towards Edgar because he’s a bit more technical than Bendo, however there probably isn’t a more ideal training partner to emulate Edgar’s unique style and footwork than Dominick Cruz. Perhaps Henderson has a few tricks up his sleeve. Either way though, it should be a fun to watch Saturday night. Image via Jeff Sherwood for Sherdog

Posted in: fight, dominick cruz, edgar, frankie edgar, frankie

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Promo for the new Ultimate Fighter on FX, featuring Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber as coaches. This fanshot was promoted to the front page by Tim Burke

Posted in: fighter, promo, front page, dominick cruz, urijah faber

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UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will serve as honorary pace car driver at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race the Subway Fresh Fit 500.

Posted in: pace, cruz, dominick cruz, car, nascar

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UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta confirmed several upcoming matchups early Friday morning, announcing on his official Twitter account that Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber will square off for a third time on July 7.

Posted in: ufc, friday morning, dominick cruz, urijah faber, fertitta

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UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta confirmed several upcoming matchups early Friday morning, announcing on his official Twitter account that Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber will square off for a third time on July 7.

Posted in: ufc, friday morning, dominick cruz, urijah faber, fertitta

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Urijah Faber talks to Luke Thomas about preparing Chad Mendes for Jose Aldo at UFC 142. He also explains why a 'boring' and 'annoying' Dominick Cruz won't lift the lighter weight classes as a champion. Hear it/read it at MMA Nation.

Posted in: luke thomas, weight classes, jose aldo, dominick cruz, chad mendes

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Perennial Bantamweight contender Urijah Faber, who will coach opposite division Champion Dominick Cruz on The Ultimate Fighter 15, discusses his expectations for the show, and shares his thoughts on spending 12 weeks with his long-time rival. Faber admits he's "not too excited" about hanging out with Cruz for an extended period of time, but says he looks forward to being able to get into the champ's head before beating his physically at the finale. Photo: Scott Hirano

Posted in: cruz, faber, dominick cruz, urijah, champs head

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Both UFC Heavyweight and Bantamweight Champions, Junior dos Santos and Dominick Cruz, sit down and share their thoughts on the UFC 141 main event between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem. Each of the title holders agree that the match-up is 50/50, explaining that Lesnar's chances of winning are highest in early stages of the bout. Photo: Scott Hirano

Posted in: ufc heavyweight, dominick cruz, title holders, lesnars chances, bantamweight champions

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submitted by alphahouse44 [link] [comment]

Posted in: dominick cruz, doctor, office, nog, alphahouse

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Former WEC featherweight champion and current UFC bantamweight number one contender Urijah Faber says goodbye to his trademark locks to show support for his sister, who was forced to undergo brain surgery following a car accident. The UFC recently announced that "The California Kid" will coach opposite his arch rival, Dominick Cruz, for the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 when it debuts on the FX channel on March 9, 2012, with a two-hour premiere. Cruz and Faber have beef from their days competing under the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) banner. Faber, the promotion's 145-pound champion, made quick work of "The Dominator" with a first round submission (guillotine choke) in March 2007. Cruz dropped 10 pounds shortly after the loss, the first of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career, and went on to win the bantamweight belt. Faber eventually followed suit after two losses to Mike Brown and another to Jose Aldo, hoping a change of scenery would help get him back to the Promised Land. However, in the most recent match up between Cruz and Faber at UFC 132 -- a fast-paced and furious, five-round fight -- Cruz would exact revenge in the form of a unanimous decision. Ever since that fateful night back on July 2, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Faber has been calling for another crack at Cruz, who he believes he defeated when they last squared off. He'll now get another (title) shot at the culmination of the coaching season. For more on TUF 15 click here.

Posted in: ufc, cruz, faber, dominick cruz, car accident

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(We'll see if Master Tong is less pissed about the inevitable decision this time around) Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber have been bandied around as possibilities for the TUF coaching gig since the WEC was folded into the UFC, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that their time has finally come. They'll now be the first coaches under the new live FX format for the show. It all sets things up for Urijah Faber's fourth title shot in three years, so lets hope he jumps this Cruz hurdle so we don't have to sit through tries number 5, 6, and 7.Putting the fate of New TUF into the hands of bantamweight fighters is a bit of a ballsy move, even when you take into account North America's unwavering perma-boner for Urijah Faber. Thus far the lighter weight guys have been having some trouble moving the mainstream interest needle, and it's important for the sanity of us paranoid UFC fans that the ratings do well or it means the MMA sky is falling! But who knows, it could be great. Dancing with the Stars is hot right now, so maybe people will love Dominick Cruz. And Urijah could turn the dueling coaches format on it's head and instead blast us in the face with some chill California loving. "Hey, let's hang ten instead of arguing, bro. Wanna share an organic salad and work our feelings out?"Meanwhile, SB Nation talks to Spike about a coaching choice that sounded awesome when it was made but led to the worst TUF ratings in the history of the show: Jack Encarnacao spoke with Spike TV President Kevin Kay and asked him about the poor ratings of the 13th season of The Ultimate Fighter -- the lowest rated in the six year run -- and Kay named one of the big causes: former UFC and WWE heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar. "Look, the Brock Lesnar season just wasn't that good. Let's be honest. It wasn't the Brock that the audience expected. The audience wanted Brock the bad guy, and Brock was more of a good guy, and I don't think it was that great a season," Kay said. In theory it was a great choice but it ended up being a guy who no speaka des englis across from someone who said nothing but CHICKEN SHIT CHICKEN SALAD CHICKEN SHIT CHICKEN SALAD for several weeks. Stop pretending you're a civilized human being, Brock. Throw some dudes across the TUF training center, tear all the doors off their hinges, and beat your chest like the silverback gorilla we all came to see!

Posted in: tuf, dominick cruz, urijah faber, brock, urijah

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The UFC has decided to go the rivalry route for the next season of TUF by naming Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz as coaches for the reality show’s run on FX in early 2012. The popular bantamweights have fought twice before, splitting the series with Cruz earning a decision nod and retaining his divisional title in their most recent rumble. “I can’t wait to be the next coach on The Ultimate Fighter,” commented Faber in an official press released from the UFC. “I am looking forward to mentoring a bunch of hungry and talented fighters. The new cast needs to be ready to work hard and learn!” “Having Dominick coach on the opposite side couldn’t be more perfect,” the proud Californian continued. “I’m not too thrilled about being in each other’s space for an extended period of time, as I am sure we are going to get on each other’s nerves. But I can’t wait to mentally beat him up as a coach, and then literally beat him up in the cage and swipe that UFC strap.” Faber Doesn’t Believe Cruz is “Dangerous” “Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a gym rat and love learning and teaching MMA. This is a dream come true,” Cruz added. TUF 15 plays host to lightweight and welterweight tournaments and, for the first time in series history, will feature live fights every Friday night with a two-hour debut scheduled for March 9 and then in sixty minute increments for the following thirteen weeks. The format is expected to be as “real time” as possible with episodes showing highlights from inside the house/gym occurring over the previous six days. No word was mentioned in relation to when Cruz and Faber will settle their score inside the Octagon but fans can definitely expect things to get heated a time or two during taping given their genuine dislike for one another. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: time, coach, cruz, faber, dominick cruz

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The UFC has announced Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber will be the next coaches of The Ultimate Fighter, when it moves to a new live format.

Posted in: coach, faber, dominick cruz, urijah faber, cruz faber

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The UFC and Dana White announced Tuesday night that Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber will be the next coaches on "The Ultimate Fighter" when it debuts on FX in March.

Posted in: coach, dominick cruz, urijah faber, fighter ’, tuesday night

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The end of the fourteenth season of The Ultimate Fighter is just 72 hours in the past and the Ultimate Fighting Championship is already announcing the coaches for the first season on FX. Bantamweights Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz will be the opposing coaches. The fifteenth season of the Ultimate Fighter will have some major changes with every fight being aired live on Friday nights. The season will determine the Ultimate Fighter at lightweight and welterweight. Among the other confirmed changes are the thirteen week long season which will be the longest that contestants have been asked to stay in the "TUF house" in series history and fights decided by fan voting. The series will debut on March 9, 2012 with a two hour long episode at 9:00 PM ET/PT. After the first week the show will get moved to 10:00 PM ET/PT for the following 13 weeks. Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz will put an end to their rivalry after the season ends midway through the year. Faber won the first fight with a quick guillotine choke. Cruz defended his bantamweight belt against Faber earlier this year. The fight this year is in the discussion for Fight of the Year.

Posted in: fight, season, year, faber, dominick cruz

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Fan-favorite Urijah Faber wasted little time turning his attention to rival Dominick Cruz after picking up a “Submission of the Night” win over fellow former WEC champ Brian Bowles this past Saturday night at UFC 139, opting to question how much of a threat the current bantamweight title-holder poses on a recent episode of Inside MMA. When asked whether or not he felt Cruz had improved any since they fought in July, “The California Kid” replied, “I don’t know (but) he’s not dangerous though.” “He’s a world champion, there’s a reason why he’s there,” Faber continued, adding, “He has my respect, but he doesn’t have my respect when it comes to punching power or danger. I’ll walk right through his punches and march forward. It’s just gonna be tracking him down and scoring more points on the way to finishing him.” Supporting Faber’s claim, Cruz has yet to stop an opponent under the Zuffa banner with the lone exception involving an injury sustained by Bowles in their March 2010 title-fight. Cruz’s last finish came in early 2008 against Kenneth Aimes. As far as he own stand-up, Faber expressed his belief that he’s constantly evolving, citing a few of his recent performances. “I’m a better striker every day. It’s crazy. I mean I do a lot of things to work on it and, I mean, I haven’t been bad. I’ve had a lot of great fights and I’ve been knocking everyone down. The last four fights I’ve knocked guys down or shook em at least, wobbled em, and you’re gonna see my best knockouts coming.” Cruz Feels He’s Already Seen Faber at his Best Faber and Cruz are expected to compete in a rubber-match at some point in 2012 after splitting their first two fights with Faber submitting “The Dominator” at WEC 26 and Cruz earning the nod from the judges earlier this year at UFC 132. Check out the full video below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ’t, i ’ve, cruz, faber, dominick cruz

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Urijah Faber has been here before – prepping for a title fight with Dominick Cruz. But he believes he has the edge when they settle the score in their trilogy.

Posted in: title fight, faber, dominick cruz, urijah faber, right time

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Watch MMAWeekly.com's video highlight of Faber at the UFC 139 post-fight press conference where he reflects on his win and touches on vendetta with Cruz.

Posted in: ufc, faber, dominick cruz, mmaweeklycoms video, vendetta

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz will officially go to war for a third time, but could they also be on tap as coaches for the 'Ultimate Fighter' season 15?

Posted in: coach, official, cruz, faber, dominick cruz

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"The California Kid" earns another crack at Dominick Cruz with a dominant win and submission over Brian Bowles.

Posted in: cruz, dominick cruz, brian bowles, brian, california kid

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In the co-main event of the UFC 139: "Shogun vs. Henderson" pay-per-view event taking place tonight (Sat., Nov. 19, 2011) in San Jose, California, Urijah Faber and Brian Bowles went toe-to-toe in a bantamweight battle. The winner was promised a title rematch against Dominick Cruz, as both men have previous losses to "The Dominator" and are eager to avenge them. So who's going to get the chance first? That would be Faber, who absolutely looked every bit as good as he ever did in the WEC by out-boxing, out-grappling and eventually submitting Bowles in the second round. "That's how you finish fights. Dominick, you can run but you can't hide, bro. Let's do battle," remarked Faber in the post-fight interview. Trilogy time. In the early going, Bowles looked as though he was having trouble with Faber's usual unorthodox trajectory. The Sacramento native was putting together combinations with the speed and quickness that brought him such success throughout his career. Bowles, whose game is predicated more on power and technique, struggled to get off the ground early. The one time he did, it was because Urijah picked him up and slammed him with a big takedown towards the end of the round. Score. Faber was far more patient in the opening parts of the second round and it paid off big. He landed an uppercut followed by a knee that had Bowles on the ropes and fighting hard to survive. Then, just like that, Faber locked in a guillotine and Bowles tapped. Cruz vs. Faber three, folks. Ready for it? Remember to check out MMAmania.com's ongoing coverage of the UFC 139 pay-per-view by clicking here.

Posted in: faber, dominick cruz, brian bowles, bowle, urijah

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Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosSAN JOSE, Calif. -- Watch below as Urijah Faber discusses his big win over Brian Bowles at UFC 139, fighting Dominick Cruz next and why he thinks it would be a good idea to coach TUF opposite his long-time rival.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: coach, dominick cruz, brian bowles, urijah faber, coach tuf

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Urijah Faber knows that to get back to a rematch with Dominick Cruz he first has to dispatch of Brian Bowles at UFC 139, so that's exactly what he intends to do.

Posted in: i ’m, dominick cruz, brian bowles, urijah faber, bowle

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Six former champions will do battle when the UFC debuts in San Jose tomorrow night with a stacked UFC 139 fight card. Set to headline is two legendary Light Heavyweights in Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Dan "Hendo" Henderson, who will go head to head with hopes of re-establishing themselves as division title contenders, while top Bantamweights Urijah Faber and Brian Bowles will do the same, with each man's eyes set on a rematch with Dominick Cruz. Also featured will be a Middleweight showdown pitting...

Posted in: ufc, light heavyweights, middleweight showdown, dominick cruz, brian bowles

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MMAFrenzy continues its coverage of UFC 139 with our preview of a bantamweight bout between Urijah Faber and Brian Bowles. Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy as we breakdown each fight on the UFC 139 main card leading up to the main event between Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Dan Henderson and former UFC light-heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles Keys for Faber (BR) - We are in quite a pickle with the bantamweight division right now. Dominick Cruz is seemingly waiting on his next opponent…to face again. He has already defeated many top challengers, including Faber, Bowles, Joseph Benavidez (twice), and most recently Demetrious Johnson. That leaves us with a possible number one contender bout in Bowles taking on Faber. Both are former champions, both have lost to Cruz recently. Both have the opportunity to challenge Cruz again. The circumstances between the two are quite different. Faber, while he has a win over Cruz, he has a full five round loss to him as well. Bowles does not have a victory, but in his loss he was unable to continue in the fight with Cruz due to a broken hand suffered in the second round. That brings us to Saturday, where the two will square off to decide who will have their rematch with Cruz. Faber, a legend of the smaller weight classes, is just 4-4 in his last eight fights. Those losses all came in championship fights, to Mike Brown (twice), Jose Aldo, and most recently, Dominick Cruz. Only one of those fights did not go the entire 25 minutes, though. The Californian still holds a strong wrestling pedigree, and his striking is still above most in the division. In Bowles, he fights an opponent who also has a strong wrestling background, but is very willing to keep the fight on his feet and use strong striking to set up takedowns. Sound familiar? With how even the pair’s styles and strengths are, the smaller intricacies will be noticeable during this fight. Faber possesses a speed advantage over nearly every other fighter in the division. That will be the case against Bowles, who tends to counterattack more than create his own opportunities. Another factor is Faber’s size. Bowles is not a small bantamweight, so he rarely fights guys of similar size and strength. His most recent opponents like Takeya Mizugaki and Damacio Page are significantly smaller. Faber is a stronger fighter, especially in his upper body. If he can take the fight to the ground, Faber should be able to outmuscle Bowles Keys for Bowles (Chris Leslie) - Brian Bowles originally shot to fame when he defeated former pound-for-pound candidate Miguel Torres. The dream ride ended quickly however as Bowles lost his first title defense to then-WEC champion Dominick Cruz. Bowles has been aiming for a rematch ever since that night and if he takes out Faber he gets a shot to redeem his only loss. Bowles is a strong overall fighter with few holes that are not tied to the fragility of his hands. Fighting Faber presents challenges that few bantamweights possess with his fast paced style. Faber’s ability to change angles and attack from unorthodox positions creates a specific problem to Bowles as it can mean his fists can land at the wrong angle, leading to another broken hand. Bowles needs to stalk Faber against the fence and use his strikes to slow down the “California Kid.” If Bowles can keep Faber trapped, he can pressure him into making mistakes and keep Faber from using his wrestling by keeping from setting his feet. Bowles has a good submission game but that may not come into play as Faber has never been submitted. That does not mean that he cannot rock Faber and then finish him with choke after Faber shoot, just makes it less likely. Bowles best chance to win is simply to keep this fight vertical. While Bowles is not a bad wrestler by any means, Faber is better at it and it could leave Bowles over-extended. The longer this fight stays standing, the more Bowles chance of winning increase.

Posted in: fight, cruz, faber, dominick cruz, bowle

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Former WEC bantamweight champion Brian Bowles wants another shot at Dominick Cruz when both his hands are intact. But first, he has to get through Urijah Faber.

Posted in: shot, wec, dominick cruz, brian, bowle

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Renan Barao dazzled at UFC 138 on Saturday. Get to know this Brazilian fighter who might soon contest Dominick Cruz for the bantamweight title.

Posted in: dominick cruz, renan, barao, brazilian fighter, profile

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A glance at the UFC Bantamweight rankings reveals a rather interesting fact; current Champion Dominick Cruz has already defeated half of the top contenders to his crown. While some fighters would find this problematic, perhaps even leaving them uninspired, that is not the case with Cruz, who is unfazed by the spectre of possible rematches. "The bottom line is it looks like I'm going to run into rematches wherever I go. That's where I'm like, I fought everybody, so why do I really care? I'm trying to fight

Posted in: rematch, cruz, dominick cruz, dominick, bottom line

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Matt Roth had the chance to catch up with UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz for MMA Nation. In this video, Cruz talks about his hand injury, Dana White and who he is picking in the bout between Urijah Faber and Brian Bowles. The video: Some quotes from the MMA Nation write-up of the article: After the UFC 136 pre-fight presser, Dana White was asked about Dominick Cruz and why he didn't bring up his broken hand even after the fight. Dana commended the champion saying he's one of the toughest fighters he knows. When Cruz was made aware of White's comments, he was elated saying, "I appreciate it. I appreciate the fact that he sees things the way we do. It means he things the way a fighter sees things. It's good that somebody like Dana who has all these things to worry about, I can't even image where his head's at, and to take the time and think about the fact that I had to go into this fight with my hand hurt from round one to round five, and fight through it." "I appreciate the fact that he recognizes it is really all I can say. i didn't want to say anything about my hand because I don't want to sound like I'm trying to make excuses or say look I did that with this problem. Who cares, it's why I didn't say anything. It didn't really matter. Demetrious fought an awesome fight. WE had an awesome fight. It didn't really play a difference in the fight and do what I needed to do. It hurt but if you're fighting for a title, you have to be willing to die out there."

Posted in: fight, hand, thing, cruz, dominick cruz

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Earlier this year we posted a picture of Dominick Cruz's left hand shortly after surgery and it seemed as if a worm-like being was incubating just underneath his skin, minutes from hatching into the world. Now it appears this worm infestation has spread to his right hand shortly after his surgery from an injury sustained in his title fight against Demetrious Johnson on October 1st. It's nice that Dominick Cruz tweets pictures of his newly found lifeform for the world to see, so in turn, the only way to pay my gratitude to this new being is to publish its existence on MiddleEasy. [Source]

Posted in: title fight, hand, cruz, dominick cruz,  demetrious johnson

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UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz sat through the recent UFC on Versus 6 post-fight press conference without revealing that he had broken his hand during his win over Demetrious Johnson. In fact, the only way the assembled media found out about the injury was when UFC President Dana White disclosed the damage to the select media he spoke to following the press conference. On Wednesday, October 12, Cruz underwent surgery on the damaged right hand.  Before going in for surgery, Cruz took time to

Posted in: press conference, demetrious johnson, cruz, dominick cruz, right hand

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Dominick Cruz talks to MMAWeekly.com about his injured hand, surgery, and who he believes he'll be fighting between Urijah Faber and Brian Bowles.

Posted in: hand, cruz, dominick cruz, brian bowles, urijah faber

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In studying Demetrious Johnson’s fights, Dominick Cruz noticed one mistake his opponents were making above all others.

Posted in: johnson, opponent, cruz, dominick cruz, control

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On the debut episode of UFC Central, Showdown Joe recaps the title match between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson.

Posted in: ufc, episode, debut episode, demetrious johnson, dominick cruz

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Dominick Cruz - respected champion or dismissed as a 'point fighter'? Will Spike TV be Bellator's lifeline come 2013?

Posted in: bellator, point, dominick cruz, weekend takeaways, lifeline

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Frankie Edgar. Jose Aldo. Dominick Cruz. These are some of the best fighters we have in the UFC today. So why aren't the small guys getting the respect they deserve? One possible explanation right here.

Posted in: jose aldo, dominick cruz, frankie edgar, explanation right, ufc today

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Demetrious Johnson had one of the best styles for Dominick Cruz, his conditioning was...

Posted in: main-card, cruz, dominick cruz, d.c, style

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It's time to give UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz the credit he deserves as one of the best fighters in the world.

Posted in: time, fighter, cruz, dominick cruz, dominick

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Or did Dominick Cruz merely prove some fans don't care about him? Call me an elitist, or an idiot. Call me whatever you'd like, but I can't in good conscience let go of this frustration whenever a fan opens their mouth about Dominick Cruz, and his failure, in their eyes to impress or compel them. Brian Hemminger has a fantastic breakdown of the fight over at Mania, complete with gifs, and so I encourage you to read it.  The gifs were one among many moments worthy of highlight. The first round was interesting because for the first time, Cruz was being outstruck, and outsped (?) by "Mighty Mouse" Demetrious Johnson. Johnson took the first with conviction. And gone was Dominick's trademark elusiveness, and footwork. He wasn't gonna dance his way out of this fight. And so he didn't. He adapted, took the fight to the ground, and made the match a grappling war. The criticism that he wasn't looking for the finish holds no malodorous water here. Cruz pulled out all the stops, constantly passing guard, and against a very tricky fighter in Johnson no less (which I felt made Cruz' performance more impressive). He even snuck in a German Suplex that led to what seemed like a fight ending rear naked choke.  Tomas Rios tweeted that "if you don't appreciate this fight, you don't like MMA. You just don't." Which prompts the question: what exactly are fans looking for to excite them, if not a five round grappling war of attrition? Is the prospect of a finish what necessitates excitement? There was one in the third. So why the disconnect? I don't expect all upper level MMA to be appreciated in this way. I respect Jon Fitch, but don't find his handy work especially appealing. Yes, I've grabbed a beer during one (some) of his fights, but it's not something I gloat about. The guy's one of the world's top welterweights and so that demands my attention, even when his style strains that attention. But Cruz has been a fountain of frenetic action. Few people will leave out his modern classic with Urijah Faber at UFC 132 in their top ten lists when all is said and done. So what's the problem? My suspicion is that part of it is due to the sport itself not knowing what it wants. It wants to be a sport, but the emphasis on entertainment has led to bouts being set up as "grudge matches" rather than performance challenges. With so many ways to finish a fight, we expect a dominant fighter to find ways to do so. Chris Lytle finished Dan Hardy. Why the hell couldn't GSP? I've always been of the belief that MMA fans are nothing if not terrible at contextualizing performance. A quick knockout, or a first round submission is somehow the ultimate indicator of dominance. But quick knockouts and first round submissions don't offer narratives. You saw this with Mauricio Rua's win over Forrest Griffin where fans had a hard time believing Shogun wasn't "back" despite looking relatively sloppy. MMA is characterized by how sudden it is, and so the logic follows that a great fighter should reflect that element of MMA. Dominick Cruz is not sudden enough for MMA fans. That's a fair description, but the conclusion that Cruz isn't compelling as a result feels like a non sequitur when you look at his past two performances. High level MMA is played on a chess panel. Not a checker board. Next week Frankie Edgar is defending his title against Gray Maynard in a fight that will likely go to a decision. Later this month GSP defends his title against Carlos Condit in a fight that will also likely go to a decision. Until Nate Diaz submitted Takanori Gomi at UFC 135, there hadn't been a single win via armbar in the UFC in all of 2011. As fighters become more informed, I suspect the description of MMA as "sudden" will slowly fade. The irony in the Cruz criticism is that should he lose at BW, I have a hard time envisioning anyone capable of finishing him with his capacity to grapple, strike, take a shot, defend a takedown, score a takedown, defend submissions, etc. I look forward to the future of MMA...it's too bad some fans won't be around to see it. Poll Do you agree with this post? Yes No   0 votes | Results

Posted in: fight, mma, fan, cruz, dominick cruz

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One question that lingered following UFC on Versus 6 was, why do the lighter weight divisions struggle to find footing with the casual MMA fan?  Once a fight drops below welterweight it seems like it just does not draw the fans in like even the most mediocre heavyweight scrap can and that’s a shame. Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson both delivered solid performances on Saturday night during their main event, a fight that saw Cruz defend his bantamweight title for a fourth consecutive time.

Posted in: saturday night, demetrious johnson, cruz, dominick cruz, heavyweight scrap

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submitted by col0rado [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: return, col, faber, dominick cruz, faber vs

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Reigning Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz, who defeated Demetrious Johnson to retain his title Saturday night, discusses the frenetic-paced bout, as well as his failure to finish "Mighty Mouse." Cruz says he is pleased with his performance against Johnson, and that though he was looking to finish the fight, he wasn't bothered by the booing crowd.

Posted in: decision victory, demetrious johnson, cruz, dominick cruz, frenetic-paced bout

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Dominick Cruz may not have finished Demetrious Johnson at UFC on Versus 6 on Saturday night, but it’s impressive that he even finished the fight

Posted in: saturday night, demetrious johnson, cruz, dominick cruz, faber v

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Dominick Cruz proved once again why he’s the top-ranked bantamweight in the world, using a varied attack to turn away game challenger Demetrious Johnson in the main event of UFC Live 6.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, eye, cruz, dominick cruz

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Video highlights from the UFC on Versus main event between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson via ESPN.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, demetrious johnson, cruz, dominick cruz

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Following his record breaking 4th bantamweight title defense, UFC champion Dominick Cruz says that he wants to continue to prove his weight class is the best and most exciting in the sport.

Posted in: bantamweight, cruz, dominick cruz, dominick, weight class

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Dominick Cruz demonstrated his versatility Saturday night by winning a unanimous decision over Demetrious (Mighty Mouse) Johnson.

Posted in: title, johnson, saturday, cruz, dominick cruz

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Dominick Cruz held onto his bantamweight title with a successful against Demetrious Johnson. Read here to find out how the champ held up against his quick challenger.

Posted in: title, johnson, demetrious johnson, dominick cruz, bantamweight title

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The UFC bantamweight champ extends his winning streak to double digits with a win in the UFC on Versus 6 main event.

Posted in: ufc, demetrious johnson, dominick cruz, streak, digit

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Dominick Cruz retained his UFC bantamweight title with a unanimous decision win over Demetrious Johnson in the headline bout of UFC Live on Versus 6.Main...

Posted in: ufc, johnson, demetrious johnson, dominick cruz, headline bout

Read the full article at Fighters Only

If I weren't here to tell you about it, it's entirely possible you would have no idea that Dominick Cruz will defend his bantamweight championship against Demetrious Johnson tonight (Sat., Oct. 1, 2011) in the main event of UFC on Versus 6 in Washington D.C. The remarkable lack of hype for this fight -- and event -- has led to a lesser perception of the 135-pound title and, in turn, the entire division. It's sad, too, considering the unbelievable amount of talent and skill that will be on display when these two mixed martial artists meet inside the Octagon to ply their craft. Don't blink or you'll miss it. Not because it will be over quickly but rather the insane athleticism and quickness exhibited by both competitors is likely nothing you've ever seen before. If you scour the Internet for MMA rankings, Dominick Cruz's name will appear in the top 10 of nearly every pound-for-pound list you can find. At just 26-years-old, the Tucson, Arizona native has amassed a record of 18 wins to just one loss -- and he later avenged that defeat. What truly makes his record special, though, is that it's not inflated with cans. He's fighting the best of the best in the 135-pound division.  In fact, it's quickly gotten to the point that a superfight against Jose Aldo has been seriously discussed. It's up to Demetrious Johnson to put an end to all that talk and if there's any man suited for the job, it's the kid from Kentucky.  Don't let his stature -- he stands just 5'3'' -- fool you. This is one of the most dangerous threats to Cruz's title just yet. His speed mixed with his wrestling presents a problem that even the very best in the world will have trouble solving. Will Cruz be able to do so tonight? You'll have to tune in to find out ... and despite the lack of promotion for the show, you definitely should. It's going to be one hell of a scrap.

Posted in: lack, demetrious johnson, cruz, dominick cruz, i weren

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Check out this UFC-produced video preview of Saturday night's UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson main event between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson.

Posted in: saturday night, johnson, demetrious johnson, cruz, dominick cruz

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Properly hyped or not, tonight’s bantamweight title fight between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson offers both competitors the chance to make a name for themselves. Sadly, the matter of fact is, this bout would not have sold well had it headlined a PPV. As it stands, Cruz and Johnson will get to display their skills for a wider audience, which on the long run, can only be beneficial. Slowly but surely, Cruz has managed to put on quite the title run, having successfully defended his title three times, besting the likes of Joseph Benavidez, Scott Jorgensen, and Urijah Faber. Bantamweight title fight: Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson In Johnson, Cruz faces arguably his fastest opponent to date. In fact, it is Johnson’s speed that has allowed him to compensate for the size disadvantage he suffers from in almost all of his fights. Johnson does extremely well to gauge distance for someone with his lack of reach. He uses his quickness and his sharp footwork to get in and out of his opponent’s range, and is actually surprisingly effective when he presses forward with combinations. He likes to finish most of his combinations with kicks, and will continuously look to throw single head kicks — particularly switch kicks — and use them to keep his opponent at bay. The leg kicks could be key for Johnson, as Cruz has proven that his chin is hard to find. Moreover, continuous leg kicks will allow Johnson to cut Cruz off and hamper his movement. The champion is a master at getting on the inside, landing, and emerging unscathed. As such, Johnson needs to stop him in his tracks before he gets to settle into a rhythm and start landing his combos and kicks. Kicks could come at a price for Johnson however, as he learned in his bout with Brad Pickett, where “Mighty Mouse” found himself repeatedly taken down off of kicks that his opponent was able to catch. Someone as savvy as Cruz will surely look to capitalize. Cruz has developed quite a unique and unorthodox style, which so far has proven to be tough to figure out. The irony lies in the fact that Cruz’s head movement and especially, footwork, are quite flawed as he continuously tends to tuck his head down a little too much, while also throwing before both foot are fully set on the mat. What Urijah Faber managed to do against Cruz is time a few counter right crosses after his opponent moves in within range. Moreover, Faber found some success when pressing Cruz, particularly in the striking. Johnson will surely look to do that, but his game is ultimately designed towards changing levels and securing the takedowns. Against Cruz, this has been almost impossible to achieve, as “The Dominator” has managed to shut down one wrestler after the other. Furthermore, his offensive wrestling has been instrumental in his success. He does a tremendous job at setting up his sharp kneetap with a 1-2 combo, and it always seems to catch his opponents off-guard. Johnson’s takedown defense isn’t bulletproof, but he’s extremely good at hip escaping and scrambling back to his feet. In the early going, he will likely prove very hard to hold down. However, one has to question whether Cruz’s size will eventually wear on him. And that highlights the real problem for Johnson: Not only is this a stylistically tough match-up for him as he is coming up against a better striker with great takedown defense and very good wrestling, but he is also at a significant size and reach disadvantage. Expect Cruz to do his thing: consistently land three punch combos, finish with kicks, switch levels, and put Johnson on his back. The challenger will have his moments, but it is unlikely to be enough to stop Cruz from scoring a decisive decision victory. Official prediction: Dominick Cruz to beat Demetrious Johnson by decision.

Posted in: johnson, opponent, demetrious johnson, cruz, dominick cruz

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Once again, Dominick Cruz walked outside the Octagon as the UFC Bantamweight Champion. Nicknamed "The Dominator", Cruz dominated the relentless "Mighty Mouse" Demetrious Johnson during all five runds, adding another impressive victory to his record. Johnson was perhaps the most well-prepared opponent Dominick Cruz has ever faced inside the Octagon. Johnson mimicked Cruz's movement by circling around the Octagon, unleashing sharp striking combinations in process. However, despite being relatively successful

Posted in: ufc, octagon, cruz, dominick cruz, dominick

Read the full article at Low Kick

Once again, Dominick Cruz walked away as the UFC Bantamweight Champion after another dominant performance. Where would you rank Dominick Cruz in your P4P list on LowKick.com Community Rankings (re-opened on Oct. 10th)?

Posted in: list, cruz, dominick cruz, dominick, rank

Read the full article at Low Kick

"UFC on Versus 6" weigh-ins are in the books, and all but one fighter made weight, including Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson.

Posted in: ufc, weigh-in, official, demetrious johnson, dominick cruz

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

HeavyMMA talks with Demetrious Johnson twenty-four hours before his title shot against Dominick Cruz at UFC on Versus 6.

Posted in: title shot, demetrious johnson, dominick cruz, championship reign, heavymma talks

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

Never before have bantamweights shouldered the marquee in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson are about to make a little history.

Posted in: showdown, johnson, demetrious johnson, cruz, dominick cruz

Read the full article at Sherdog

Dominick Cruz can’t control the amount of hype around his fights, so he focuses his energy on the action in the Octagon.

Posted in: cruz, dominick cruz, control, ’t control, amount

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

The UFC on Versus 6 headliner talks about beating the top 5 challengers in the division and bringing some attention to the bantamweight division.

Posted in: champion, division, dominick cruz, bantamweight division, under-appreciated champion

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

UFC on Versus 6 Event Primer | NBC Sports UFC on Versus 6 Main Event Breakdown: Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson | MMA Fighting Dominick Cruz Reflects on Faber Win, The Ultimate Fighter, Being the Best Ever | Bleacher Report Stefan Struve: I’m not afraid to strike with Pat Barry | LowKick Pat Barry Describes No-Win Situation Fighters Face | 5thRound Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger reportedly in the Works for UFC 141 | Cage Potato UFC 136: ‘Angry’ Gray Maynard will make sure Frankie Edgar is in pain on Oct. 8 | MMA Mania Gray Maynard seeking redemption, respect, and UFC gold | Five Ounces of Pain All kinds of messages sent by UFC with second show on same day as Japan event | Fight Opinion Watch a 16-year-old Shogun Rua fight some dude inside his friend’s living room | MiddleEasy Kimbo Slice prepares for Oct. 15 boxing match in Nebraska 
| TheFightNerd UFC 135: Payout Perspective | MMA Payout Image via MMA Mania

Posted in: ufc, jake ellenberger, mma, vs, dominick cruz

Read the full article at MMA Convert

The UFC on Versus 6 main event between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson won't start until tomorrow night (Oct. 1) at the Verizon Center, but the war of words is already underway. Hear what both camps are saying right here.

Posted in: demetriou, tomorrow night, demetrious johnson, dominick cruz, verizon center

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Breaking down tomorrow's fight card from the opening bout through the bantamweight title fight between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson.

Posted in: fight, fight card, demetrious johnson, dominick cruz, opening bout

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

Listen to the full audio of the UFC on Versus 6 conference call featuring Dominick Cruz, Demetrious Johnson, Pat Barry, and Stefan Struve.

Posted in: conference, stefan struve, demetrious johnson, dominick cruz, johnson conference

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

MMANation's Luke Thomas talked to top MMA trainer, and head official for ONE FC, Matt Hume during the UFC on Versus 6 open workouts. 'The Wizard' talked about various topics such as ONE FC's potential to succeed, the emerging markets in South East Asia, the UFC's planned event for Japan, the state of JMMA, and finally, a detailed breakdown of the upcoming title fight between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson. Naturally, he predicts a victory for his student in Johnson, although the most intersting tidbit would be him saying that the champ's movement isn't really that unorthodox, and that "Cruz's footwork is to run away, while Demetrious Johnson's footwork is to fight" Apologies in advance for a small portion of the conversation being cut on the start, but do check out video footage below: You can also check out Luke Thomas' other UFC on Versus 6 interviews with Pat Barry, Stefan Struve, Dominick Cruz, and many others on MMANation.

Posted in: ufc, luke thomas, demetrious johnson, cruz, dominick cruz

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz doesn't have the reputation of a finisher with the killer instinct fight fans so often lust for but it's not for lack of trying. In fact, he says that's always the goal but if he can't get it, he's got something else in mind: "That's what I'm trying to do every single fight. If I don't get the finish, I'm trying to embarrass you for five rounds and get a dominating victory, like no doubt. So absolutely, I'm trying to go out there and finish the fight ASAP." Can Demetrious Johnson avoid getting "embarrassed" or "dominated" for five rounds by the greatest 135-pound fighter on the planet at UFC on Versus 6 this Sat., Oct. 1 in Washington D.C.?

Posted in: round, demetrious johnson, dominick cruz, ., oct, fight asap

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Demetrious 'Mighty Mouse' Johnson may be a heavy underdog at the sportsbooks heading into his fight with UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, but that's nothing new to him.

Posted in: i ’m, johnson, demetrious johnson, cruz, dominick cruz

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

I offered to buy Dominick Cruz a drink in San Jose last year, he denied my advances to get him intoxicated. Next time I see Cruz, I will suggest he buy me a drink and when he does, I will deny it as some lame attempt at revenge. I'll show this Dominick Cruz who's boss, and when I do, I will enjoy a delicious meal at Applebee's. Basically what I'm trying to say is I will never enjoy that meal at Applebee's because Dominick Cruz would dominate me in every physical altercation imaginable. That's why he's called 'The Dominator,' although that statement does not apply to Halo: Reach. He would get schooled. Many of you may still be recovering from last weekend's orgy of combat sports, but there's still more MMA lined up. This weekend we will see Dominick Cruz defend his UFC bantamweight belt against the ridiculously quick Demetrious Johnson. Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve, Rumble Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman and Yves Edwards vs. Rafaello Oliveira will also go down at UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson. It will air on the Versus Network this Saturday, so finish all your weekend homework before then. Check out this clip from Shootmedia of Cruz talking about his upcoming title defense.

Posted in: ufc, vs, cruz, dominick cruz, dominick

Read the full article at Middle Easy

Dominick Cruz explains why he's so confident heading into his fight and how at the prime of his career he wants to create legacy.

Posted in: career, cruz, dominick cruz, dominick, step

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Standing just 5’3″ tall, Demetrious Johnson is one of the shortest fighters in the UFC’s smallest weight class, bantamweight (135 pounds), and a top candidate to drop to 125-pounds when the UFC adds a flyweight division. But that hasn’t stopped “Mighty Mouse” from nearly reaching the pinnacle of all professional fighters’ dreams: a world championship. Johnson will get that chance this Saturday at UFC on Versus 6, as he takes on the current bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz, in the main event. Johnson joined the WEC in April of last year, losing his debut against Brad Pickett, but has since won four in a row, including his most recent win over former WEC champion Miguel Torres at UFC 130. Johnson recenty spoke with MMAFrenzy.com regarding the opportunity in front of him, as well as the recovery from his last fight. In Dominick Cruz, Johnson takes on an opponent who, like him, has only lost once during his career. While he will bring a height advantage, Cruz’ arms are only two inches longer in reach compared to Johnson. Plus, Johnson is one of the few guys that can compete with Cruz athletically. “Dominick is a great champion,” said Johnson. “He’s always been well prepared for five rounds, but so am I. He is a cardio machine, so I know I have to have better cardio than him.” That preparation is evident with Cruz’ last three fights all going the distance in five round bouts. In fact, only one of Cruz’ last eight fights have ended prior to the third round. In Johnson’s most recent match with Miguel Torres, Johnson won a close unanimous decision. Johnson feels that prepared him for the taller Cruz, as Miguel is even taller than Cruz at 5’9″, while Cruz is 5’8″. In that fight, Johnson broke his fibia in the second round. This hampered Johnson’s training, but did not hamper his spirits or his chances at the title. “Breaking my fibia was tough,” said Johnson. “I love staying busy. I’m young and I heal well. Being on crutches for six weeks was boring, but I started training full time as soon I was cleared.” Even with his ascent to the top of the bantamweight division, rumors have continually gone around regarding a drop to 125 pounds once the flyweight division is introduced to the UFC. Johnson is only focused on what is happening now, stating “I’m not too sure what I will do. I am focused on Dominick right now, and winning would keep me at 135 pounds. I would want to keep the belt for as long as I can.” This fight with Cruz will be Johnson’s first fight on the East Coast, and more importantly, will be the first championship fight on free television since UFC 75, which saw Rampage Jackson defeat Dan Henderson. Johnson does not care whether the fight is a main event on pay-per-view or on free television. “It doesn’t bother me. The same results will happen if I win. I leave with the belt no matter what.” For complete coverage of UFC on Versus 6, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, cruz, dominick cruz

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

Audio from yesterday’s UFC on Versus 6 conference call with Dominick Cruz, Demetrious Johnson, Pat Barry and Stefan Struve via BJPenn.com.

Posted in: ufc, conference, stefan struve, demetrious johnson, dominick cruz

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Currently riding the momentum of a four-fight winning streak, which includes octagon victorious over Miguel Torres and "Kid" Yamamoto, Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson will look to dethrone reigning Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz this Saturday night in the UFC on Versus 6 headlining bout.

Posted in: saturday night, demetriou, miguel torres, demetrious johnson, dominick cruz

Read the full article at Low Kick

Dominick Cruz is at the top of the bantamweight mountain as the world champion of the UFC. Demetrious Johnson wants that spot, and he's rearranged his life to take Cruz's title.   Both, however, share a belief that the ride could be over at a moment's notice. And so both have brought a work ethic they hope will make their careers as long-lasting as possible.

Posted in: world champion, demetrious johnson, dominick cruz, work ethic, bantamweight mountain

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

The UFC has scheduled a media conference call for 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT today to promote this weekends UFC LIVE card on Versus featuring Dominick Cruz defending his bantamweight belt against "Mighty Mouse" Demetrious Johnson. Cruz and Johnson are scheduled to participate on the call as well as the co-main event competitors Stefan Struve and Pat Barry. UFC President is not listed as a participant according to the press release. Follow Matthew Roth on twitter for the instant updates. Following the call I will post the tweets to this page for everyone else to see.  This weekend's event shall be the final UFC on Versus and the second time that the UFC is giving a title fight away for free. The first time was the title unification fight between Quinton Jackson and Dan Henderson after the purchase of PRIDE.  Promoting a title fight on free TV can do nothing but help the public's awareness of the lighter weight classes and with Dominick Cruz sitting at the top of the bantamweight ladder, he's become one of the most dominant champions in MMA. This weekend Cruz will attempt to defend the 135 pound title for a fourth time against Demetrious Johnson, who is riding a four fight win streak which includes Miguel Torres and Norifumi Yamamoto. 

Posted in: ufc, title fight, demetrious johnson, cruz, dominick cruz

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow